Finally, Space X has successfully lifted off its Falcon 9 rocket. The Falcon 9 rocket was lifted from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. As per the report, Dragon capsule on the Falcon 9 rocket is carrying some important research equipment which weighs around 4,800 pounds. The instruments will help to carry out more than 250 major investigations in the Space Station.
Research materials flying inside Dragon include an investigation demonstrating the benefits of manufacturing fiber optic filaments in a microgravity environment. This is designed by the company Made in Space, and sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS). It will attempt to pull fiber optic wire from ZBLAN, a heavy metal fluoride glass commonly used to make fiber optic glass. If it gets succeed, then the scientists will able to make high-quality fiber optic product which can be used in space as well as on Earth.
Another equipment is Solar Irradiance Sensor or TSIS-1. The machine will measure the Sun’s energy input to Earth. As per the report using the TSIS, the scientists will able to collect three times more accurate than previous results. The result will help the researchers on Earth to evaluate Sun’s natural influence on Earth’s ozone, atmospheric circulation, clouds, and ecosystems.
Coming to its another equipment which is there in the Dragon capsule is Space Debris Sensor (SDS). As per the report, the sensor will measure the orbital debris situated around the space station for two to three years. The sensor will provide near-real-time debris impact detection and recording. The research result will help to lower the risks posed by orbital debris to human life and critical hardware.
This is SpaceX’s 13th cargo flight to the space station under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract. Dragon will depart from the International Space Station in January 2018 and will return to Earth with more than 3,600 pounds of research, hardware and crew supplies.
